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One of our owners wants high-speed NBN FTTP. However, as far as I can understand from the NBN web pages, it’s only possible if the whole block (i.e. every unit, no exceptions) is connected at the same time for $275 installation cost each.
Wouldn’t that be an infrastructure change requiring super-majority approval at a general meeting?
Also, at least one unit has telephone only (no data) and I think several units have no connection at all, thanks to mobiles. Those owners might not be happy about subscribing.
Has anyone else worked through this?
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Can you provide a link to the NBN page with that information on it?
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It’s not that simple, depending on your connection type you might not be able to upgrade.
In smaller blocks they used the same tech as houses, FTTN, but in larger blocks they used FTTB.
In any buildings that they were going to do an upgrade, they have said they will charge the building $275 per unit, and will only do an entire building, not individual units.
I’m not sure if that applies to FTTN buildings but would seem likely as even though three’s no main connection into the building, they’d still have to work within strata property to run the fibre into each unit, so would make sense they would only agree to do all at the same time, and i’m guessing they charge the strata when organising it, you’d need to contact NBN to find out.
For FTTB buildings NBN currently hasn’t figured out what they’re going to do, they’re doing some trials, but in most cases you can’t currently upgrade.
Go to http://www.nbnco.com.au and put in your address, that will show you what connection type you have (FTTB or FTTN) and whether any upgrade is available. If it doesn’t mention upgrades available, there’s nothing you can do (apart from go with a different provider if available in your area).
https://www.nbnco.com.au/residential/upgrades/more-fibre-for-buildings
” As part of our network investment plan to expand fibre, nbn covers a significant portion of the installation cost. However, to support the upgrade, a co-contribution from customers is also required.
The customer co-contribution fee is $275 (inc. GST) per individual unit/premises and/or per common area service (e.g. security and access control, EV chargers, solar power and video surveillance).
A joint payment will be required for all units/premises (and any common area services) in your building or complex. This fee is payable by the Owners Committee/Body Corporate/building owner or a similar representative body for all the owners.”
Here you go Jimmy, hope this helps.
I am not the OP but have a look here. Under the section Check If You’re Eligible it says, “Any upgrade must apply to the entire building or complex”.
We had the building done about a year ago, unanimous consent and that $275/per rings a bell.
Previously a flakey FTTC service here, checking the telephony pit in the street when the covers were lifted, it was not entirely surprising, rats nest twist wiring and waterproofing covers left unattached. One of the techs did say in future fibre would be installed everywhere – and at no cost, but when or if that may actually occur, who knows.
Installation by contractors (2 days in a 5 storey small block here), approval by nbnco and switch on, took a week or two from memory. You save paying the fibre connection fee with the ISPs, as would happen with a house, some of them were extremely slow on offering fibre plans (database? not updated for months) and simpler to just change provider.
Unless it’s a big complex, the 3 months may refer to the time it takes for the preliminary plan to be produced, which lays out proposed various exterior fibre connection terminals and cable/conduit runs and the internal NTD in your flat, all of which you have a say on location, must be near a power point though. It was unnecessary in the end (safe work practices at height on a ladder) we insisted all cabling went up the cavity or in the subfloors from the building pit – construction of the building will dictate what’s possible there however.
I am in QLD, we received an offer for FTTP for our building, 40 floors and 243 units from a company called Giggacom, currently we have Fibre to the Node goes up the building via copper.
Their offer is to install fibre up to all floors in the building, with fibre connection along the corridors (at the ceiling/wall) and a small box device at each door.
They are not charging for installation of the fibre FTTP, the installation has been approved by the building, owners do not have to connect they can choose to stay with their current provider.
They are offering competitive prices for the fibre and they also offer a very fast option at an higher monthly cost.
Not installed in our building yet, maybe check with them and see if they offer in your area.
I have Gigacom’s non-fibre service (microwave, I think, connected to internal copper) with wifi through the apartment. It’s fast, reliable and pretty good value.
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We upgraded our building (14 lots) to FTTP (from FTTC).
Cost was $275 to NBNCo. The installation was done by a contractor who did an excellent job, locating the equipment as requested by each apartment.
Everyone is free to use a provider of their choice.
I’m really enjoying 1Gb/s!
To answer chesswood’s questions, based on our experience:
- what standard the installation is done to. Will there be new conduits carrying fibres all over the walls?
There are conduits in our car space and on the outside of the building. Internal cabling in corridors, where visible, was done in neat rectangular ducting. Internal cabling in apartments used very discreet adhesive fibre. The contractors were attentive to appearance.
- what costs unit owners will face
Once installed, unit owners’ costs for whatever service they currently have will remain the same. (i.e. if they have nothing, it costs nothing; if they have phone only, that’s what they’ll pay for).
- what happens to existing services during the installation period (about three months, apparently).
Our existing FTTC service was maintained throughout, and will be until everyone has moved to the fibre.
- that this is a change to infrastructure which in NSW strata will require a super majority to approve
As an upgrade (rather than maintenance), yes, it needs a special resolution. At some point, as existing copper is entirely superseded, it might become maintenance.
- how much say the OC has in the detailed design which will be prepared once an application has been lodged
Our experience was that we had a lot of say. We worked with the contractors to determine all cable routes, equipment locations etc.
I hope this helps.
With the various internet ‘discussions’ about installing FTTP in a building it is indeed fortunate that electricity and toilets were installed before strata was in existence.
Some of the arguments against updating and future-proofing the internet connection are laughable.
And, it surely adds value to the building.
We are in the process of having FTTB installed throughout the building. Happy to have this done, the current situation is very ordinary, but we knew nothing about it until advised by the building manager that the committee had approved a quote & the work would commence next month.
Total cost of the upgrade is around $25,000 & a share of the expense has been charged to each owner.
NBNCo does this work at a cost of $275 to each owner, but it appears that the committee decided to go with another option at twice the cost but done faster.
Is this not something that should be approved by special resolution, or can the committee just go ahead with upgrades like this?
Having just quoted the Act in reference to another question, I am happy to do so again:
108 Changes to common property(1) Procedure for authorising changes to common property An owners corporation or an owner of a lot in a strata scheme may add to the common property, alter the common property or erect a new structure on common property for the purpose of improving or enhancing the common property.
(2) Any such action may be taken by the owners corporation or owner only if a special resolution has first been passed by the owners corporation that specifically authorises the taking of the particular action proposed.
Note.If the special resolution is a sustainability infrastructure or accessibility infrastructure resolution fewer votes may be needed to pass it. See section 5(1)(b).Installing fibre to the building must be a change to common property, so a special resolution would be required before work commences.If you want to be alerted when anyone replies to your posts or responds to this topic, please register and login, then you will be able to subscribe to the topic. The opinions offered in these Forum posts and replies are not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers with serious issues should consult experienced strata lawyers. NB: Longer threads may spill over to additional pages - look for the numbers on the bottom right, under the last post.